Machine for making book covers



July 3, 1923. 1,460,581

- T. E. HEETER.

MACHINE MAKING BOOK- COVERS Original Filed Jan. 1'7; 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 "July 3, 1923.

. 1,460,581 T. HEETER MACHINE FOR MAKING BOOK COVERS Original Filed Jan. 17, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 3, 1923.

1,460,581 -'r. E. HEETER MACHINE FOR MAKING BOOK COVERS Original Filed Jan. 17, 1921 s Shets-Sheet 5 fore the edges of the cover are turned over umreo sr 1,460,581 rsN-r oFFicE.

rnoxas E. names, or sr. LOUIS, mrssounr.

MACHINE FOR MAKING 300k COVERS.

Application filed January 17, 1821,8efia1 110131941. Renewed April as, 1923.

To all whom it may concerm.

e it known that I, THOMAS E. HEETER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the city of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a new and useful Machinefor Making Book Covers, of which the folloyving is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvementsin book making machines, and consists in the to novel construction hereinafter disclosed.

Heretofcre in practice in making book J covers or cases, desk blotters, or other similar articles havin round corners and com prising a stifi bac or card board or heavy paper covered with leather or cloth, the leather or cloth has been turned over the edges of the book and the rounded corners formed by hand. Under this'practice much labor has been employed and, in addition thereto, it has been very diflicult to obtain a smooth finish at the corners of the articles. It is the principal object of the present invention to provi e a machine whereby the rounded corners for book covers or cases, desk blotters and the like may be formed mechanically and whereby a smooth even finish of the corners will be produced.

This object as well as-additional advantages may be obtained from the following described mechanism taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the complete machine. I N r 'Fig. 2 is a side elevation with a portion broken away to better illustrate the mecha-- msm.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in plan of the work supportingbed of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a view of the end of the plungg. Fig; 5 is a corner section of the blank Fig. 6 illustrates the first operation in formin a corner. 7

Fig. is the next operation with the edges of'the covering turned over the b'ack of. the

blank.

Fig. 8 is the third ope'ration showing the plunger in section. I

Fig. 9 is the completed product of the machine.

In the embodiment of theiuvention illustrated in the drawing the machine is shown as comprising a base 1 supported by suitable legs 2. The mechanism for turning in and i-creasing the covering for the board of the ing radial paths 'of movement;

is supported transversely of the machine mounted a spool 15. For each finger blade book case at the corners includes a work supporting bed late 3, which is provided with suitable guide pins 4 for holding the work in proper alinement. A finger blade support is mounted on the'bed plate, 3 and comprises a frame formed from spaced segmental blocks 5 that converge to a common center, the spaces between the blocks const1tuting guide ways for the finger blades 6. A segmental retaining plate 7 is fitted over the blocks 5 to hold them in position and to prevent the finger blades from displacement. he finger bla es 6 radiate from a common center and extend at one end into a cut-out space 8 at the center of the finger blade support and at the other end beyond the outer edge of thefinger blade support and are arranged to slide in the support on converg- The frame'of the machine'includes; side members 9. The side members 9 support at thefront of the machine a front frame comprising uprights 10 and cross members 11. The main operating shaft 12' of the machine and journaled in the side 'members 9, the shaft 12 being provided with' an operating I pulley 13 whereby the same may be rotated.

Below the base plate 1 of the-machine. is a short stud shaft 14 on vwhich is slidably I 6 there is provided a tri-armed lever 16, each lever-being pivoted on a bracket 17, said brackets being secured to the under face of the bed plate and being disposed in an are 9 'in valinement with the respective. .finger' blades 6. Through the bed plate in back ofthe finger blade support is an arcuate slot 18, through which one arm-of the tri-armed levers extends. In each of the finger blades near the outer end thereof is a notch-19,

each finger blade engaging over theedge of the respective arm of the tri-armed levers 16, so that :as the levers are moved .ontheir pivots the finger blades will slide toward 0 and away from their converging center simultaneously. p l g Each of the levers 16 has connected there with aspring 20 attached to its lower arm at one end and to the end of the stud shaft 14 at the other end. The tendency of the springs 20 is to normally hold'the' finger blades 6 in their outward adjustment. The third arm of each ofthe tri-armed levers 16 is provided with an adjusted screw 21 that abuts against the flange of the spool 15. Obviously, as the spool 15 is depressed the tri-armed levers 16 will be rocked so as to throw their upper arms inwardly, thereby actuating the finger blades 6 inwardly toward their converging center. The means for operatin the spool 15 comprises a pair of rods 22 slidab'ly mounted in the bed plate of the machine and normall bearing against the top flange of the spoo 15. These rods are in alinement with plungers 23 slidably mounted in the front member of the frame of the machine. The two plungers 23 are connected together by a block 24. The block 24 has threaded therein an adjusting screw 25 that extends above the upper edge of the block behind the front member of the frame of the machine. The lever 26 is pivoted on a shaft :27 supported near the back edge of the side members 9 of the frame of the machine. The lever 26. bears against the end of the adjusting screw 25' at its forward end and carries approximately midway its length, on its side face, a cam roller 28. The mam operating shaft 12 of the machine is provided with a cam 29 that cooperates with the cam roller 28 to depress the plungers 23 and thereby the spool 15 through the connecting rods 22, thus swinging the tri-armed levers 16 on their pivots to move the finger blades inwardly. .The extent of movement of.the finger blades may be adjusted by means of the screw 25. v

In order to crease and press down over the board the turned-in corners of the leather or cloth, a plunger 30 is mounted to reciprocate in suitable supports carried by the frame of the machine. The plunger 30 is provided with a head comprising a circular center portion 31 with a series of ribs 32 arranged around the center portion in spaced relationship so that there will be grooves or channels between the ribs. The grooves or channels converge to a common center which is the axis of the central portion 31, the outer edges of the ribs being beveled in order to guide the finger blades into the channels between the ribs and to form smooth creases in the material at the corners. This plunger is normally actuated to raised position by a spring 33 attached at one end to a pin 34 carried by the plunger and at the other end to a pin 35 on the frame of the machine. In order to depress the plunger against the tendency of the spring 33 there is provided a lever 36 pivoted on a rod 37 mounted in the upper rear portion of the frame of the machine. This lever is con 'nected with another lever 38, likewise pivoted on the rod 37, and connected with the lever 36 through an adjusting screw 39. The screw '39 threads into projections on the levers 36 and 38 and is arranged with a fine thread near the upper portion and a coarse thread near the lower portion so that a relative adjustment of the levers may. be

effected. r

This adjusting screw provides for determinin the length of stroke of the plunger 30 in or er to accommodate the machine for operation upon case blanks of difi'erent thickness. -The lever 38 carries at its free end a cam roller 40 that cooperates with a cam 41 on the main operating shaft 12 of the machine.

The cams 29and 41 are so formed and adjusted as provide the following sequence of operation. In the initial position of the machine the plunger 30 is elevated and the finger blades are in their outward adjustment. In the initial position the machine receives the case blank which comprises the board 42,to the outer face of which is secured the covering 43 of the leather, cloth or other material, with a margin of the covering projecting beyond the edge of the board. The projecting margin of the covering is treated with glue that is allowed to dry to a tacky state. A corner of the case, blank is inserted against the edges. of the blocks 5 within the cut-out portion of ort, with the inner the finger blade supp lades ad acent to the edges of the finger curved margin of the blank. From the initial position the plunger 30 is depressed against the work supporting bed of the mascribed, moves the fingers simultaneously inwardly a sli ht distance into the space between the ri s 32. The case blank, before insertion in the machine is illustrated inFig. 5; and the first operation just described, whereby the fin ,ers have moved slightly into the channels fietween the ribs forming the head of the plunger 30, is illustrated in Fig. 6. This operation raises the marginal section of the cover and uniformly creases it at the corner of the case blank, whereupon the plunger 30 is elevated and the finger blades are caused to continue their inward movement, during the elevation of the plunger 30, thereby turning in and holding in place the marginal edge of the covering, as illustrated in Fig. -7 of the drawings. After the finger blades have completed their inward movement the plunger is again depressed, the lower face 01 the plunger head coming into pressure contact with the surface of the turned-in marginal edge of the covering, as illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

After. this operation has been completed a continuation of the rotation of the main shaft raises the plunger 30 and moves the finger blades outwardly releasing the work,

The completed products is illustrated in 1. 7 rality of 'dable" tions in the sequence Fig. 9 of the drawin After the corners have been secured e straight marginal edges may be glued in position in the usual manner. V r

- I am a'ware that the invention maybe modified in certain particularswithout. de-' parture from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not limit myself therefore to the exactconstruction and arrangement "shown and described but what I claim and desire to secure by lietters Patent, isz- 1. In a machine of the character described, a work support, a plunger adapted to reciprocate above said work support, a head carried b said plunger having radial grooves forme therein, a finger blade sup rt argedon said work support, a plurality of slidable finger blades mounted in said finger blade support, said blades bein adapted to move intothe slots in said r head,- sprin normally actuating and b des outward y,'mechan1sm for moving said r blades inwardly, and mechanism for 1801p: rocating said plunger.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of devices adaptedto form a series of radial creases injtliejlmarginal edges of the rounded corners of 'the cover of a book case blank or the lib, turn the marginal edges in backwardly onlthe board of the blank, and hold the same in position, another device to press down the turned-in edge of the cover after (the first named de- 2 vices have performed their stated 0 rations; and operating mechanism for a l-of said devices timed to perform said operaa machine ofg-the character descrihed,-a work support, aplunger adapted to reciprocate abovesaidwork support, a head carried by said plunger having radial to reciprocate above said work support a s @carried b 1 said plunger having afar grooves forme there n, a finger blade-suprt arran on said ,work support, a

. p0 (plurality of s idable'fingerblades mounte in said finger blade support, said blades being ada ted ovmove into the-slots in said tpllun ger ead, for moving said ger blade and mechanism for reciprocating said unger. .Y j o '4. in a machine of the character described,=a work support, a plunger adapted grooves formed therein, a finger blade sup arra d on saidwork support, a p1u-. finger blades mounted in said finger blade support, said blades being- .adapted to move into the slots in said plung mechanism forgmovingsaid finger blades, mechanism for reciprocat said plunger, and means for adjusting the ength of stroke of said lunger.

5. In a machine of the character deto reciprocateabove. said work support,- a,

,heaii carried-3y grooves form therein, a finger-blade supsaid finger bladesupport, said blades being axis of the plunger into the slots in the head saidplunger-having tim port arranged on said work support a 111;- rality ofslidable finger blades mouiited in adapted to move into the slots in said plunger head, mechanism for moving said finger blades, mechanism for reciprocating said plunger, and means for adjusting the. extent ofmovement of said finger blades.

6.-In a machine of the character described, a work support, a plunger adapted to reciprocate above said work support, a

head carried by said ,plunger having radial I grooves formed therein, a'ffinger blade sup- 30 port arrangedon said work support, a plujrality of slidable finger blades mounted in said finger blade support, said blades .bein adapted to move into theslots in sai plunger head, mechanism for moving said nger blades, mechanism. for reci roasting, said plunger, means for adjusting t e length\- of the stroke of the plunger, and means for adjusting'the extent of movement of said\ finger blades. 7. A machine of the character described, comprising a work, support; a frame; a plunger mounted in the trams and adapt ed to reciprocate rpendicularly with respect to said wor sup art; a head carby the lower end 0 the plunger havm a series of radial slots therein; a plura ity of finger blades mounted to slide .radiall toward the axis of the plunger into the ots in the head thereof; means for normally holding the finger blades away from the plunger head; power mechanism for moving the'finger-blades in op osition to .said

means, including a lever an a cam device; and meansmclu'dmg a'd ustabIei levers and seem device for reciprocating the lunger tosaid work support, a head carried by the lower end of the plunger having a seriesof radial slo'ts therein, a plurality of. finger. blades mounted to slide radially toward the thereof, means for normally holding the finger blades away from the plunger head, power mechanism for. moving the finger lades in opposition to said means, and. means for reclprocating the pin or toward the work support twice during t e inward niovement of the fin er blades. 1

9 A machine of t e character described,

-comprising a work supfort, a frame, a plunger mounted in the r I "to reciprocate perpendicularly with respect scribed, a work support, a plunger adapted me and adapted to said work support, a head carried by the radial slots therein, means for normally actuating the plunger away from the work support, a plurality of finger blades mounted to slide radially toward the axis of the plunger into the slots in the head thereof, means for normally holding the finger blades away from the plunger head, power mechanism for moving the finger blades in opposition to said means, and means for reclprocating the plunger toward the work supporttwice during the inward movement of the finger blades.

- "10. In a machine of the character described, a work support, a plunger adapted & 1,460,581

to move perpendicularly toward and away from said work support,'a' head on the plunger having vertical die-slots therein and .a presser blade at its base, a series of radial fingers movable toward and awa from the axis of the plunger, and means or op- 20 erating the fingers and the plunger whereby material will be pressed into the slots in the plunger head, released, turned in, and pressed down to form a smooth turned-in corner of a covering over a rounded corner 25 

